Thursday, October 14, 2010

National Art Gallery Tour

Me and Laopopo sat down 'coz her poor feet were aching. This is our view of the stage.

Don't you think the ceiling looks like a giant chocolate bar?

There we go. Looks like I'm very tall right? Taking this picture right over everybody else's head. Actually I've just got long arms. Heh.

This is One Old Stone.

Making our way to take a 'Historic Photo'.

So fun! All these are really old artists! I's sure I've seen some of them hanging out at NAFA before...

Perfect view of the top of this guy's head...

Perfect view of the top right side of this guy's head...

Excited Photographers.

Yay! We get to be part of the picture too!

Laopopopopo: Are we done yet? heh.

Alamak! Somebody block traffic!!!

These are our tour guides.

Wow... In the eyes of a criminal...

There's this underground walkway that leads right back to the prisons.

More chocolate bars?

Feels like something out of a movie.

Hahaha, Laopopopo acting innocent.

The natural lighting made it look like we're on some street outdoors.

Busy taking photos, not listening to teacher. tsktsktsk.

This floor is actually made of rubber! Back in the day while they were constructing this building, there was shortage in building material so the british had to make do with rubber. Because we had a lot of rubber. (Remember all our rubber plantations?)

My fitflop!

The Eye That Watches Over All...

One of the walkways. The 'No Smoking' sign so spoiler...

The Rotunda Library. (The whole library is actually ROUND) Like all the shelves and all go around in a circle following the shape of the dome overhead. Cool, right!? So surreal.

Ooh. Secret Spiral Staircase.

That's the ceiling of the Rotunda Library.

I just LOVE old architecture!

Gorgeous, right?

Sigh.

Did you know that our Lady Justice is not blindfolded? She has her scales, her sword, but no blindfold. I wonder why.

Pretty Columns

See? No blindfolds.

But I've found out why! According to wikipedia.com (my answers to everything),

Justitia is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from her left hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case's support and opposition. She is also often seen carrying a double-edged sword in her right hand, symbolizing the power of Reason and Justice, which may be wielded either for or against any party. She is also often depicted wearing a blindfold which represents objectivity, in that justice is (or should be) meted out objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of identity, money, power, or weakness; blind justice and blind impartiality.

The earliest Roman coins depicted Justitia with the sword in one hand and the scale in the other, but with her eyes uncovered. Justitia was only commonly represented as "blind" since about the end of the fifteenth century. The first known representation of blind Justice is Han Gieng's 1543 statue on the Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen (Fountain of Justice) in Berne.

Actually, many sculptures simply leave out the blindfold altogether. For example, atop the Old Bailey courthouse in London, a statue of Lady Justice stands without a blindfold. The courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her “maidenly form” is supposed to guarantee her impartiality, thus rendering the blindfold redundant.

Aiyoh, so vain.

Attempt #1: Take an artistic photo.

Attempt #2: Take an artistic photo.

Attempt #3: Take an artistic photo.

Joanne cannot take artistic photos to save her life.

Laopopopo helping to cover half my face so I don't look fat.

I like this photo. So touristy!

So cute ah, this girl~

Oh, Ok.

When I saw this, I was reminded of the doorknob in Mort, a book which I just finished. Because in Discworld, gargoyles can talk, and technically, this is considered a gargoyle too, and he's got this major lisp when he talks because there's something in his mouth All The Time! hehe So funny. I loved that character.

Thus, I felt it no less than necessary to take a couple of photos with it. (I was secretly hoping it would start talking to me, but it didn't. Sigh)

This is the City Hall building next to the Supreme Court.

I don't know why but these street lamps make me feel like bursting into some broadway musical song.

The Old Supreme Court will be turned in the National Art Gallery, Singapore, and I can't wait! Our tour guide mentioned that there will be performance venues, galleries, cafes and lots more!

I think it is awesome that the arts scene in Singapore is getting the attention it deserves, and hopefully our Lady Justice at the top of the building will serve as a reminder that all local artists, regardless of identity, money, power or weakness, should be given the opportunity to showcase their work here.